The moving home guide – 14 things you need to do

You’ve got the boxes, the packing tape and the moving date
is on the horizon but there are a few more jobs to add to that to-do list. Moving house is a fun-filled agenda of form filling,
box packing and sorting everything you’ve collected over the years. This moving home guide features a list to get your teeth
into, to ensure you’re really ready for that move.

1. Get
your post redirected

You don’t want to miss any important letters when moving
house, so use the Royal Mail’s post redirect service.
There is a fee for this service but it means all your mail gets sent to your
new address from the date of your move – so no awkward conversations with the
new owners or tenants if you need to pick up your post. Bear in mind that you
can only set this service up six months before your moving date and up to six
months after.

2.
Contact your energy suppliers

Your gas, electric and water suppliers need to know if
you’re moving house, try and let them know about your moving date at least 48
hours before the moving date. This means they have time to send you a final
bill that you can review and pay. Once they issue that final bill, you’ll have
28 days to pay.

3.
Ensure you’re covered

It’s a good idea to speak to your home insurance provider
and ensure your belongings are covered during the move and that your policy is
applied to your new address from the moving date. It’s not worth risking this
job – if something should happen to your belongings while travelling to your
new home or on the day you move in and your policy doesn’t cover it this could
put a real dampener on what should be an exciting day.

4. Let
your bank know about the move

It’s important your bank has the right address for you. This
means you won’t miss any important future mail and there’s no risk of it
falling into the wrong hands after you’ve moved out. Some banks allow you to do
this online, through your online banking portal but you could also give them a
quick call.

5.
Ensure your employer has your new address

Let your HR department know of your new address so they can
update their records and use the correct address for you on your wage slip.

6.
Update your address with your car insurer

It’s really important your car insurance provider has the
most up to date address for you on your policy. If you don’t have the right
address on your documents then your insurer may not pay out if you need to make
a claim. Your address also impacts how much you pay, as areas with higher crime
rates or where you leave your car overnight, for example, can increase or
decrease the price.

7. Amend
your address on your V5 and driving licence

You can do this for free when moving
house. To update your V5, it’s simply a case of filling in the new
address section on your V5 document and sending this off to the DVLA. If you
don’t update your V5, you could be charged a fine of up to £1,000 – so it’s
definitely worth the price of a second class stamp.

To change the address on your driving licence you can either
do this by sending off a paper form that can be picked up from the Post Office
or completing a form online. Ensure
this is done by the moving date and that you have some other form of I.D
available if you’re fresh-faced and out at the pub on a Friday evening.

8. Book
a storage unit

Storage units are a great idea if you need some space to house your belongings during a home move. Maybe the place you’re moving into needs some real fixing up before you want to bring your stuff in or perhaps your move out and the date you get your new keys don’t quite match. Whatever your reason, instead of squeezing your worldly possessions into your parent’s garage pop them in a storage unit and book ahead if you can to get the best rate. Get a quotefrom us today for a storage unit.

9. Let
the TV Licence company know

Ensure your first TV show binge in your new home is covered
by changing the address on your TV licence before you move. Give them a call or
update your details online.
Remember, you could be handed a fine if you fail to apply for a TV licence at
your address when watching live TV or on-demand services.

10. Have
your TV and broadband moved to your new address

It’s likely you’ll want to stay with the same digital TV and
broadband provider. It’s a good idea to check first that they supply to your
new address – some who use fibre cables are unable to offer their services to
certain streets or flats above ground floor –
then give them a call to discuss what they can do. Different providers
have different procedures and options, so it’s best to speak to yours directly.

11. Note
down everyone else you need to notify

You’ve got the main companies and people covered but it’s
also worth making an additional list of everyone else who needs to be notified
of your new address and either contact them by phone or send them a letter of
notification. Your private pension, Clubcard membership providers and even your
gym need to know about your new address so they can keep in contact.

12.
Change the address for child benefit

It’s important you amend the address your child benefit
letters are sent to. Children, by law, must receive this from birth and schools
will not provide a place without this letter – so you definitely need to
provide the right address before the registration deadline.

13. Take
meter readings

It’s a good idea before you lock up the property to stop and
take some last minute meter readings – snapping a picture on your phone also
captures the time and date they were taken. If your energy suppliers wanted a final
reading before generating a bill, this means they have accurate ones to work
from and you can also challenge them if they chase you for payment for any
charges after your move out date.

14.
Choose a takeaway close by

You’re going to be famished after a long day of moving –
look around for a good looking takeaway close by and plan your meal for the
first night in your new home!

All of these things can be done before you hand your keys
over, all you need to do is confirm the move out date and ensure the people
you’re contacting amend their records from this time. Do it in advance and
you’ll have a lot less to worry about when it comes to actually moving house and getting settled.

Now you know what to do when moving
house, it’s time to get started. Tick these jobs off as you go and be
prepared for that big day!